Magnificat
1. Magnificat * anima mea Dominum.
2. Et exsultavit spiritus meus * in Deo salutari meo.
3. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae: * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.
4. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus.
5. Et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies * timentibus eum.
6. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo * dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
7. Deposuit potentes de sede, * et exaltavit humiles.
8. Esurientes implevit bonis: * et divites dimisit inanes.
9. Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
10. Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros * Abraham at semini eius in saecula.
11. Gloria Patri, et Filio, * et Spiritui Sancto.
12. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, * et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Click here for an English translation.
These verses were written by Our Lady herself, springing up from her habitual disposition of thanksgiving to God for all He had given her. You can see how high her soul habitually dwells when reading this lofty poem, recorded for us by the Evangelist St. Luke (Chapter 1), who was inspired by the Holy Spirit. She had just been praised by St. Elizabeth for having believed the word of God - and how does she react? By denying the graces she had received? No, instead she refers all glory to God to whom it belongs. So also should we admit to our strengths, just as to our weaknesses, attributing the strengths to God's grace and the weaknesses to our own failings. Thus can we imitate her who is above all creatures, in the highest glory possible for a creature. The Mother of God suffered so generously, and abased herself in the deepest humility while she was on earth. "Because he hath regarded the humility of His handmaid."
This is sung at the end of Solemn Vespers, right after the Vespers hymn. There is always an antiphon sung before and after it, proper to the day's feast.
This is found on the following CD(s):
Chant Compendium 1, and
Chant Compendium 3.
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